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Over $1.5 million to restore the Ottawa Central Railway

BRISTOL, QC, Feb. 20 /CNW Telbec/ - The Governments of Canada and Quebec
announced today that work to restore the Ottawa Central Railway will begin
soon. Both levels of government will invest over $1.5 million for this
$2.4-million project.
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and
Communities and MP for Pontiac, and Ms. Charlotte L'Ecuyer, MNA for Pontiac,
handed over a symbolic cheque to Marc Laliberté, President of the Quebec
Railway Corporation during an event at Bristol.
"As Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and MP for
Pontiac, I am very pleased about this great news, which will have direct
benefits for my constituents," said Minister Cannon. "These investments will
be very beneficial socio-economically speaking for Pontiac."
"I am particularly pleased about this substantial project which allows
the Ottawa Central Railway to have more capacity on its rails, and to meet the
North American standards," said Ms. L'Ecuyer. "This investment will improve
our regional rail service and give us access to the continental rail network."
"In addition to helping the railway upgrade to North American standards,
the contribution by the two governments along with the private investment will
ensure that this infrastructure can continue to play its essential role for
regional shippers," said Mr. Laliberté, President of the Quebec Railway
Corporation and owner of the Ottawa Central Railway.
Under the restoration program, the Government of Canada will invest
$948,000, the Government of Quebec over $632,000, and the Ottawa Central
Railway more than $789,000 over a period of five years in support of the
project.
The work will upgrade the carrying capacity of the Railway's tracks over
a distance of 36 kilometres.
Shortline railways provide regional railway service, and for Quebec
businesses they are essential for trade. The shortline companies operate more
than 38 per cent of the Quebec railway network, i.e. over 2,300 kilometres of
track. Over 80 per cent of the goods shipped by shortline railways in Quebec
are destined for the United States. The goods shipped are mainly wood, paper,
pulp, particle board, ore and aluminum. In this way, shortline railways play
an indispensable role in the Quebec economy.